ASCL Primary and Early Years Conference

The British Library, London

Building strong foundations

At this year’s ASCL Primary and Early Years Conference you will hear from an extensive programme of expert speakers who will share knowledge, research and insights on a wide range of key areas affecting leaders in the vital early years and primary sectors.

Our programme will focus on tackling inequality and the attainment gap from the early years onwards, effective leadership of SEND, and updates on government policy and guidance, including inspection and the DfE’s Writing Framework. Practitioners will also share their knowledge and experiences to help delegates explore ways to design, build and enhance impactful leadership in their setting.

All primary leaders in schools and trusts are welcome to attend.

Speaker

Tiffnie Harris

Primary and Data Specialist

David Bartram OBE

SEND Adviser

Rob Carpenter

Trust Leader, Inspire Partnership and member of ASCL Council

John Camp OBE

ASCL Immediate Past President 2024-25 and CEO, The Compass Partnership of Schools

Rebekah Iiyambo

CEO, Eko Trust

Beryce Nixon OBE

CEO, Exceed Learning Partnership

Dr Julian Grenier

Senior Content and Engagement Manager (Early Years), Education Endowment Foundation

Lisa Wise

Headteacher, Wilbury Primary School and Executive Lead for School Improvement, Children First Academy Trust

Dr Tim Mills

DfE RISE Advisor

Sophie Chaloner

Deputy Headteacher, Wilbury Primary School and School Improvement Team, Children First Academy Trust

Fees

Standard fee: £150 + VAT
Group discount for 2 or more delegates: £135 + VAT (10% discount)

Programme

ASCL PD reserves the right to amend the programme should circumstances dictate.

8.30am			Registration, refreshments and exhibition Breakfast is sponsored by Pupil Pathways

9.20am			Welcome Tiffnie Harris, ASCL Primary and Data Specialist

9.25am			Collaborating for school improvement Rebekah Iyambo, CEO, Eko Trust John Camp OBE, ASCL Past President and CEO, The Compass Partnership of Schools How two trusts of primary and special schools collaborated for school improvement. This session will look at how The Compass Partnership and Eko Trust collaborated over a 5-year period to build capacity for system and school improvement - building networks of connection and providing opportunities for staff to maximise knowledge and skills to improve outcomes for all. As a result of the impact of collaboration the Trusts are now progressing with a formal merger.

10.10am			Education inequality is deep-rooted, but it isn’t inevitable – how to use evidence to make a difference in EYFS Dr Julian Grenier, Senior Content and Engagement Manager (Early Years), Education Endowment Foundation By the end of the Reception year, nearly half the attainment gap for the whole of primary schooling is already present. In this session, Julian will outline the EEF's research evidence on the practical steps that schools can take. By developing the quality of their reception and nursery classes, schools can help to tackle educational inequality.

10.55am			Event Sponsor - Academy21

11.00am			Refreshments and exhibition

11.20am			The DfE Writing Framework - what school leaders need to know Dr Timothy Mills MBE, DfE RISE Adviser and former Executive Director of Primary Education, STEP Academy Trust Writing is notoriously difficult. According to psychologist Ronald Kellogg, it is one of the most cognitively demanding endeavours we undertake as humans - twice as demanding as reading and up there with Grandmaster chess- and if it is difficult to do, it is really difficult to teach. However, it is immensely susceptible to teaching. It also gifts huge cognitive, social and creative benefits and often defines the success of a young person's journey through school and academia. Leading it well is essential. The Writing Framework seeks to help us all be more expert in this complex discipline. Let’s explore it further.

12.00pm			RISE update Rob Carpenter, Trust Leader, Inspire Partnership and member of ASCL Council

12.20pm			Inspection update Rob Carpenter, Trust Leader, Inspire Partnership and member of ASCL Council

12.40pm			Lunch and exhibition

1.20pm			What Great Leaders Know, Understand and Do: Designing leadership for impact Beryce Nixon OBE, CEO, Exceed Learning Partnership Developed through a cross-trust partnership with the British Army, this session introduces a progressive leadership framework grounded in cognitive science, ethical practice, and system-wide excellence. Drawing on military leadership theory, it offers practical insights into how an evidence-informed leadership curriculum can drive development, elevate professional culture and improve outcomes across schools, trusts, and wider systems.

2.00pm			Effective leadership of SEND in primary and early years David Bartram OBE, SEND Adviser

2.40pm			Closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils - effective early intervention is key! Lisa Wise, Headteacher, Wilbury Primary School and Executive Lead for School Improvement, Children First Academy Trust Sophie Chaloner, Deputy Headteacher, Wilbury Primary School and School Improvement Team, Children First Academy Trust Leaders will learn about the vital importance of developing a positive whole school approach to addressing educational disadvantage, and gain valuable insight into highly effective implementation in the Early Years.

3.20pm			Questions and closing reflections